Today avant-garde black metal band Germ streams the entirety of forthcoming new album, "Grief" (reviewed here), which is set for North American release today through Eisenwald. Hear the entire album in the player below, courtesy of Decibelmagazine.com.

Germ, the solo band of Tim Yatras (Austere, Grey Waters, ex-Nazxul, ex-Woods of Desolation, etc), had always been lurking beneath the shadows of his other bands. That is until 2012, when the project came bursting onto the scene with the debut album "Wish," and follow-up EP "Loss" (reviewed here).

Another huge step forward for Germ, "Grief" also takes a step back towards Tim’s black metal roots by placing more emphasis on guitar this time around. The album also features a stunning guest appearance by Audrey Sylvain (Amesoeurs, Peste Noire), as she lends her amazing voice to two songs.

At 13 tracks and over 69 minutes long, "Grief" is another journey into Tim’s twisted mind, and definitely one not to be missed. More...

In anticipation of the coming album release, Germ has posted a track from "Grief" online. Check out "Butterfly" in the player below. The album's track listing is as follows:

1. Intro2. Butterfly3. The Stain Of Past Regrets4. Departures5. Memorial Address6. An End7. Beneath The Cliffs8. Blue As The Sky, Powerful As The Waves9. How Can I?10. I Can See It In The Stars11. It's Over12. Withering In Hell13. Ghost Tree pt3 More...

Avant-garde black metal act Germ has uploaded the first in a new series of ambient songs online titled "Ghost Tree Part 1."

Give the song a listen through the player below. Germ mastermind Tim Yatras also commented on the track:

"I have just uploaded a 20 minute ambient piece to Soundcloud. This is the first in a series of 3 instrumental pieces which will be uploaded over the next few weeks, and all available for free download. Of course this is not for everyone, so feel free to take it or leave it!"

In a switching of gears from our last premiere, it's time for something a little more Fall appropriate: depressive black metal, but with a serious twist.

After seeing a U.K. stream through Zero Tolerance, Metalunderground.com is now proud to host the North American exclusive premiere of Germ's appropriately titled "Loss" (reviewed here).

Check out all six devastatingly avant-garde tracks from the release below (the player may take a few moments to load the first song after hitting "play"). The music speaks for itself, but if you want to know what you are about to get into, consider the ending lines of our review: "If David Bowie decided to do an album with Burzum, while both were under the influence of LSD, the end result would likely be something like 'Loss.' This one’s going to strongly appeal to fans of the insanity of Devin Townsend who want the black metal cred of Peccatum to boot."

You can also see what band mastermind Tim Yatras had to say about the release himself in this recent interview.

Begun as a solo project by Austere member Tim, Germ was conceived as early as 2003. The idea behind Germ was to create something that not only combined atmospheric black metal and rock - Tim has become known for with his love of classical, pop and electronic styles of music - but to create an image and visual aspect to accompany the music.

1. My Only Hope2. So Lonely, Dead Lonely3. Only When Every Timepiece In The World Is Smashed Part I4. Only When Every Timepiece In The World Is Smashed Part II5. Cold Grey Dawn (A New Beginning)6. Loss

1. My Only Hope2. So Lonely, Dead Lonely3. Only When Every Timepiece In The World Is Smashed Part I4. Only When Every Timepiece In The World Is Smashed Part II5. Cold Grey Dawn (A New Beginning)6. Loss

To find out more about the release, you can also check out our recent interview with Germ at this location. More...

Germ's latest EP "Loss," which follows the band's "Wish" album from last year, is set to drop on October 30th, 2012. The track listing and artwork can be viewed below. Germ was also covered in the genre-blending edition of our "Unearthing the Metal Underground" column. The following press release was issued about the upcoming EP:

"Begun as a solo project by Austere member Tim, Germ was conceived as early as 2003. The idea behind Germ was to create something that not only combined atmospheric black metal and rock - Tim has become known for with his love of classical, pop and electronic styles of music - but to create an image and visual aspect to accompany the music. In 2006, a three-song EP was recorded, but never released. One track from the EP, 'Raving Mad With Sadness,' was uploaded to Myspace, and to this day gains considerable praise. After this song appeared, things again fell silent.

"After almost three years of inactivity, where the focus was on other projects, Tim entered SLS studios in October 2009 to begin tracking for what was to become the debut full-length Germ album. However, not long after, Tim was again focusing on other projects, this time composing pop songs for various major labels and producers, as well as working as a session drummer for various bands; completion of the debut Germ album would have to wait. As of February 2011, Tim resumed work on the album, this time with the determination to see it through to the end. Tim’s continuing work as a composer and session musician have meant at times the progress has been slow, but finally the debut Germ album, Wish, was complete in the somber month September 2011 and finally saw a release through EISENWALD in March 2012. More...

The big name metal bands may get most of the spotlight, but Metallica and Black Sabbath are just the tip of the heavy iceberg. Every week we search out and share lesser known or unsigned acts that deserve to be heard by a wider audience. For today’s edition of Unearthing the Metal Underground you’ll get a dose of metal that bucks specific trends and expresses a heavy sound in unexpected ways.

For all the focus on rebellion and the disdain for conformity, heavy metal is undeniably a style of music that breaks down into very regimented genres – black metal, thrash, grindcore, etc. There tends to be a rigid confinement that bands are expected stay within when creating music, and stepping outside those boundaries either leads to derision by hordes of anonymous Internet posters, or the formation of yet another sub-genre.

While there’s a whole division of metal devoted to ignoring those boundaries (prog and avant-garde), some bands simply blur the lines between styles naturally and don’t easily fit in one recognizable category. Breaking the strictures set down by the worldwide conclave of elitist metalheads , these three bands start with a standardized form of metal and then head in unexpected directions that set them apart and make them unique.

Germ

The solo band from Tim Yatras of Austere and Woods of Desolation, Germ is a project that exudes a pure love of music, no matter where the sonic inspiration originally comes from. Starting out with a highly atmospheric form of black metal using totally indecipherable vocals, the act then blends in shades of rock and other mainstream elements, including the use of clean singing. Going even a step further, the new album “Wish” mixes in trance and electronic elements, at times sounding almost like an ‘80s movie soundtrack. In a nod to the black metal roots, there is a bit of a lo-fi aura filtering everything, and the harsh vocals screech out from the background, just barely breaking out of the surrounding noise.

What’s interesting about Germ is that its particular blend of these styles rarely sounds like anything else out there. The collision of trance and black metal sounds essentially nothing like Nachtmystium’s forays into similar territory, and it also never falls into any resembling the dance metal or dubstep collaborations that have become par for the course lately.

For a condensed look at this intriguing mixup, check out the four minute track “Asteroid of Sorrow” below, or for a longer float down the cosmic highway that is Germ, instead dive headfirst into the 10 minute sublime ride “An Overdose on Cosmic Galaxy.” To check out more from Germ, head over to the band’s Facebook profile.

Germ has posted the song "Cold Grey Dawn" online, which will be appearing on the band's upcoming EP "Loss." You can listen to the song in the player below, and the band commented:

"I've just uploaded a song from the upcoming EP to the Germ Soundcloud page. It's an old one and I guess it's the most 'poppy' song on the EP. It also features the amazing voice of Tania Moran providing backing vocals. Hope you all enjoy!"

Australia's Germ has checked in with the following update about working on a new EP:

"I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has bought the album so far. The response has far exceeded my expectations, and is extremely humbling! I hope everyone is enjoying it!

"The past couple of weeks have been very busy here, I've been compiling all the material together for the upcoming EP, as well as working with Erebus Studios on the artwork.

"One thing I can say about the songs and artwork, is that it is possibly a little darker than the album, but still in the Germ style. Details are yet to be finalised, but I can say that the title will be 'Loss', and it will feature 6 tracks. More news to come in the the near future."

For more information on Germ, head over to the band's official Facebook profile.

Australia's Germ has checked in with the following announcement about using songs from the now defunct band Grey Waters in an upcoming EP:

"So I guess most of you will have seen by now that Grey Waters is no more. However, a few songs intended for the aborted GW debut will surface in re-worked versions on a special limited GERM EP, to be released in the coming months. Also featured on the EP will be orchestral versions of a couple of songs from 'Wish,' a song from the 'Wish' sessions not included on the album, as well as one brand new track! More info soon, and don't forget March 12 for the worldwide release of 'Wish!'"

Grey Waters also commented on the band's demise:

"We regret to announce today, that we have decided to lay Grey Waters to rest. Nothing has happened with the band for over 18 months now, and we feel it is best to go our separate ways. However, this is far from the end of the road for the material that was to make up the debut full length album! Material intended for this album will resurface from both D. and Tim, under a new name from D., and through Germ from Tim. For all info and updates please check here and here. We wish to sincerely thank everyone who supported Grey Waters, and hope you continue to do so whatever paths we take in the not too distant future."

Germ is the solo project of Tim Yatras (Austere, Grey Waters, Woods Of Desolation, ex-Nazxul, etc) and has an upcoming debut album titled "Wish." Preliminary mixes from the album for“Your Smile Mirrors The Sun” and “Asteroids Of Sorrow” can be streamed via the Germ Facebook profile. The band's publicist also commented on Germ:

"The debut album, 'Wish,' is a journey into a twisted mind. From horrific shrieks to beautiful vocal melodies, from ferocious blast beats to haunting atmospheric passages and everything in between, Wish is everything fans of an emotive style of heavy music could have hoped for. A bright, bizarre and simultaneously catchy fusion of elegant heavy rock music, furious back metal moments, Jean-Michel Jarre-influenced electronics and even classical influences. The voyage lasts for over 40 minutes, breaking through genres and niches, without losing touch to elegant and remarkable epicness, that covers the entire album. Prepare to feel dazed and attracted.

"Germ was conceived in 2003 to create something that combined the atmospheric black metal and rock for which Yatras is known with his love of classical, pop and electronic styles of music combined with a striking visual aspect to accompany that music. In 2006, a three-song EP was recorded, but never released. One track from the EP, 'Raving Mad With Sadness,' was uploaded to MySpace, and to this day gains considerable praise. This early song shows glimpses of what was to come, featuring an extended electronic breakdown and clean vocals mixed with Tim’s hellish shrieks. After this song appeared, things again fell silent.

"After almost three years of inactivity, Yatras entered SLS studios in October 2009 to begin tracking Germ’s debut full-length album. However, not long after, Yatras was again focused on other projects, this time composing pop songs for various major labels and producers, as well as working as a session drummer for various bands. As of February 2011, Yatras resumed work on the album, this time with the determination to see it through. The progress was slow, but Wish is finally complete and will see a release through Eisenwald in January 2012."